AIBSNLPWA

 CHQ CIRCULAR DT. 20-10-22

Date: 20/10/2022

Pension Revision Meeting held under the chairmanship of

Member (S) and our internal meetings

Comrades,

Regarding the official meeting on pension revision conducted by DoT under the chairmanship of Member (S) Dr Mahesh Shuklaji on 17^th October 2022 itself we sent a small message to all of you covering the important points.

 

As demanded by us in our memorandum and insisted in the meeting itself, we understand that the “Minutes” is under preparation point 2 in our memorandum).  After we get that, we may send a letter rebutting their contention and we shall give you the required information.

 

Moving forward

Through our letter dated 14/9/2022 to Secretary (T) we demanded for constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of Member (S) involving the stake-holders.  Though a committee is not constituted, for the first time a formal meeting was held with pensioners’ associations in which various wings of DoT like pension, finance, accounts etc. also participated.

 

A policy decision is taken with the approval of Hon MoC to delink pension revision from pay revision which is historic.  The earlier stand that without pay revision, no pension revision is broken (our memorandum point no.6).

 

Zero percent fitment proposed by DoT was rejected by all the pensioners’ associations in one voice which created a compulsion on DoT to take a stand not to pursue further with zero percent (our memorandum point no.7 & 8).

 

Making DoT to concede our genuine demand of pension revision from 1/1/2017 is not a mean achievement.

 

Internal meetings

9 associations which gave a joint letter on 14/9/22 had a meeting on 17/10/22 between 1145 & 1500 hours in Kidwai Bhavan 5^th floor Recreation club under the presidentship of Com D Gopalakrishnan (VP, AIBSNLPWA) to finalize our strategy for the official meeting with DoT.

 

In that meeting 20 representatives from AIBSNLPWA, AIRBSNLEWA, SNPWA, DBPA(Kerala) from BSNL side and RTOWA, Delhi & Mumbai, MREWA, Delhi & Mumbai, MPWA, Mumbai from MTNL side participated.

 

Com P Gangadhara Rao (GS, AIBSNPWA) welcomed all.  The representatives of all these 9 associations unanimously said that we should insist for 7^th CPC fitment factor.  The draft memorandum prepared by AIBSNLPWA was read out by the president and sought the opinion.  Except one correction, the draft was unanimously approved.

 

 

 

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It was also unanimously decided that Com D Gopalakrishnan would read out that memorandum and handover to Member (S).  Other leaders would support, supplement and raise some questions to the administration.  Com Prahalad Rai informed that BDPA(I) wanted to have consultation before the official meeting.  Since there was no time we could not hold it..  Com Anupam Kaul proposed vote of thanks.

 

Review meeting

After the official meeting was over, on 17^th evening itself a review meeting was held in Kidwai Bhavan.  In the meeting some leaders including Prahalad Rai, J S Yadav said that our memorandum was appreciated by some other organizations also.  Prahalad Rai told that even after the official meeting, BDPA(I) leaders approached him and told that they want to discuss for further course of action.  Some other associations also wanted such a consultation. So, they were contacted including AIBDPA.  All of them agreed to attend the meeting on 18^th at 1030 in the same venue of kidwai bhavan. 

 

Our 9 associations jointly decided to send a common message about the official meeting.  After approval by all of them, the message was sent across the country.

 

18/10/2022 Joint meeting at 1030 in Kidwai Bhavan

Held under the chairmanship of Com D Gopalakrishnan.  Totally 27 leaders participated in this meeting.  Com P Gangadhara Rao welcomed all.  Apart from our 9 associations, 5 leaders including Coms D D Mistry, K Thomas John, D Chandrasekaran from BDPA(I), 2 leaders including H F Chaudhri from AICGPA,(PN), 2 leaders from AIBDPA (Coms K G Jayaraj & R S Chauhan), 2 leaders including Com Hari Sowani from BDPS (PN), Com Jaswant Singh, President of Pensioners’ forum (MTNL) participated. 

 

AIBDPA GS Com Jayaraj said that 7^th CPC fitment factor is not realizable.  The pension department has rejected it.  Only 15% as per 3^rd PRC is realizable and we should jointly fight for it.  Meeting Minister, Secretary etc. will not bring the result.

 

BDPA(I) & AICGPA also said that 15% as per 3^rd PRC is the correct demand.

But BDPS (PN) said that 7^th CPC fitment factor is the correct demand and permanent solution..

 

Coms Prahalad Rai & A K Kaushik explained the logic and rationale behind our demand.  DG rebutted the points raised by AIBDPA & others.  He suggested that those associations may write to DoT stating that “if 15% is not possible then DoT may consider 7^th CPC fitment factor”; those organizations may discuss in their forum and decide.  But even that suggession was also rejected by them.  Then DG said that let us agree to disagree and disburse.  At this juncture, Com K Thomas John said that “let us not conclude that way; it is difficult for any orgnisation to change their demand suddenly; so let all review their stand and we can meet at some point of time”.  We reiterated our stand and the meeting was concluded.  Though there was no unanimity in demand, atleast we could exchange our views.

 

 

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BDPS & Pensioners’ Forum, MTNL signed our memorandum which was handed over to O/o Member (S).  So now the demand of 7^th CPC fitment factor is accepted by 11 pensioners’ associations.

 

Wish you all “Happy Diwali”

 

Yours fraternally,

 

P Gangadhara Rao, GS, AIBSNLPWA   A K Kaushik, GS, RTOWA

 

 

Prahlad Rai, GS, AIRBSNLEWA              G L Jogi, GS, SNPWA

 

 

R K Mudgal, GS, MREWA, Delhi             J S Yadav, GS, RTOWA, Mumbai

 

 

G Hariharan Nair, CS, DBPA, Kerala       K A Haldaahar, GS, MPWA

 

 

V P Prajapati, GS, MREWA, Mumbai      Hari Sowani, GS, BDPS

 

 

Jaswant singh, President, Pensioners’ forum, MTNL